Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi
End of Watch: Sunday, October 21, 1984
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: J-22
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: October 21, 1984
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Corporal James Bounds suffered a fatal heart attack after responding to the murder scene of Conservation Officer James Wood, of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
Upon initially arriving at the scene Corporal Bounds set up a perimeter around the area of Officer Wood's home at Ross Barnett Lake, near Mize. When other officers and medical personnel arrived he entered the crime scene and learned that the victim was Officer Wood. Upon seeing Officer Wood he clutched his chest and collapsed as he said: "What about his family?"
The man who murdered Officer Wood was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Corporal Bounds had served with the Mississipi Highway Patrol for 20 years and was assigned to Troop J in Hattiesburg, Smith County. He was survived by his wife and three children.